Abstract:
Man is an integral ingredient of environment which consists of biotic and
a biotic components. A natural interaction between man and environment is not only
essential but also unavoidable for satisfaction of human needs, but in reality man has
exploited nature almost to the point of no returns for the satisfaction of his greed.
Being unable to distinguish between 'utilization' and exploitation of natural
resources, man has endangered his own existence. With rapid industrialization,
unplanned urbanization and irrational, modernization, under the banner 'Development1
which have created and aggravated a multitude of environmental problems such as
deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, silting of rivers, impoverishment of important
flora and loss of biodiversity, depletion of non renewable sources of energy, global
warming and pollution of land, water and air are proving to be a terrible threat to the
sustainability on this beautiful planet.
What is the way out? Environmental Awareness which is possible through the
best tool that can be used to generate awareness is "Education". The integration of
scientific and technological advancement into quality of everyday life as resulted in
degradation of environment and imbalances between advantaged and disadvantaged. It
has become imperative (NCERT-2005) to nurture and preserve the environment. School
Education can play a major role in it as it is more concerned with the masses the
curricular areas at various levels that is Primary, Upper primary, Secondary, College
and University Levels. Assuming that environmental awareness is a value, it can
possibly be inculcated through three approaches that are Hidden Curriculum, General
Awareness Programmed and Specialized Courses in Environmental Sciences.
Interdisciplinary (Infused) model and multidisciplinary (Infusion) model are discussed
convincingly in this paper. The Genesis and Growth of the National Green Crops
popularly known as a program of Ecoclubs initiated nationwide by the Ministry of
Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of India (Gol) in the year 2001-2002
which is a unique program aimed at building a cadre of young green crops working
towards Environmental Conservation for a more secure and sustainable planet. The
details of National Green Crops (NGC) functioning in Andhra Pradesh, India, and its
goals, objectives, activities and achievements are also dealt with and discussed in this
paper with an aim of "Think Globally and Act Locally".
